SBD2 Licence — CAMEL SKI SCHOOL

A little bit about the SBD2 Courses at Camel Ski School…

Recreational waterskiing and wakeboarding is great fun and most power boats are able to tow. However, if you do wish to tow waterskiers and/or other associated disciplines, including inflatables, on coastal waters you will need to take the Ski Boat Driver Level 2 Course (SBD2). On the Camel Estuary it has been necessary to hold the SBD2 qualification to acquire a ski permit for your vessel since 2016. We run the SBD2 Courses from mid March to the end of October.

SBD2:

What experience and requirements do I need in order to enrol?

Before applying to take the Ski Boat Driver Level 2 all candidates must meet the following pre-requisites:

Be competent driving and manoeuvring a boat. Ideally all candidates should have their RYA Powerboat Level 2 or equivalent or have 10 hours driving experience. If you are new to powerboating and wish to take your RYA Powerboat Level 2 before taking your SBD2 course then we would recommend our neighbours – Camel Sailing & Powerboat Centre – situated next door on the Pontoon, Rock – Camel Sailing and Powerboat Centre. They run courses throughout the season and you can book in with them direct.
Be aged 16 years or over.
Provide a skier to tow for the practical element of the course – they will be required in the last half hour of your assessment and will need to be experienced enough to complete a 200 metre tow and complete a turn behind the boat. If you cannot provide a skier we can provide a member of staff to ski for you – there will be an additional fee for this (see costs below).
Read, and be familiar with, the SBD2 Assessment Handout
Read, and be familiar with, the SBD2 Student Workbook

What does the Course Cover?

The SBD2 comprises both a theoretical and practical assessment.

Theory: The theoretical element of the course tests your boat driving knowledge. To prepare you for your theory test you will attend a Theory Presentation, conducted by one of our SBD2 Instructors and designed to develop your understanding of a number of key topics relating to driving a ski boat on coastal waters – this takes 2 hours. Following this, candidates will be asked to complete and pass a 30-minute online multiple choice SBD2 examination when you arrive at the Ski School to take your Practical.

Practical: The practical element covers boat handling and towing skills and ideally should be taken in your own boat. It may be possible to use a Camel Ski boat, but there is an additional charge for this. Camel Ski boats are not available in July and August. The practical takes a minimum of 2 hours (depending on the number of candidates) and covers basic familiarisation with the boat, the site and the assessment procedure, followed by a slow manoeuvring skills assessment and finishing with a towing assessment. Please refer to the SBD2 Assessment Hand Out, which explains the assessment in detail. You will also complete your theory test at this time - so please be aware you will be with us for at least an additional half hour on land to do this.

ICC - the SBD2 course also includes the International Certificate of Competence for coastal waters which you may require for European Inland waters (CEVNI Regulations) and qualifies you to hire boats abroad up to 8.5 metres. The ICC issued by BWSW is the only qualification recognised by the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency for towing water skiers on coastal waters. You can opt to include this in your Licence when you apply to join BWSW for an additional cost.

FAQ’s

How many people can take the Course? We can run the course for one or two people. If two people wish to take it together we do allow an additional hour on the water for the practical assessment to give each participant enough time to take their turn practising the necessary skills. There is no additional cost for this.

Can I take the Course in my boat or Camel Ski’s? During the months of July and August all SBD2 Courses MUST be taken in your own boat. Outside of these months we may be able to make a Camel Ski boat available, but there will be an additional charge for this.

I can drive a boat, but I may be a little rusty? If this is the case then we would suggest booking in for our one hour Refresher Course before taking the Practical. You can do this on the same day as your practical if you wish. Clink on the link for more details.

What happens when I have completed the SBD2? On completion of the course we will send you a British Waterski and Wakeboarding (BWSW) membership application form to complete and return to us. If you want your ICC (International Certificate of Competence (for Coastal Waters) included you will also need to provide us a passport style photo. We will then send this off with your practical and theoretical paperwork to BWSW who will process your application and contact you to take payment. See below for details.

There are many membership options – Individual, Family etc – please see the BWSW website for further details. There are also lots of additional benefits you receive by being a member of the BWSW – details on the website.

What to bring: Please check the local weather prior to taking the course and dress appropriately. We recommend that you bring plenty of warm clothing, even on warmer days it can get chilly out on the water, plus waterproofs and appropriate footwear for the boat. Other useful items to pack are a warm/sun hat and gloves, sunglasses and sun cream, and a water bottle. We provide buoyancy aids. We have a cafe at the Ski School selling a selection of hot and cold drinks and snacks.

For general information please see our FAQ’s page.

COURSE COSTS:

SBD2 – ONE CANDIDATE:

Duration: 2 hours for the online theory presentation, 2 hours on the water, 30 minutes to complete the theory questionnaire: £230.00 per person taken in your own boat £20.00 extra if taken in one of our boats (NOT AVAILABLE IN JULY AND AUGUST)

SBD2 – TWO CANDIDATES: Duration: 2 hours for the online theory presentation, 3 hours on the water, 30 minutes to complete the theory questionnaire: £230.00 per person taken in your own boat £30.00 extra if taken in one of our boats (NOT AVAILABLE IN JULY AND AUGUST)

SKIER: Need someone to tow for your course? We can provide a member of staff for you to practise towing. £25 per course.

ADDITIONAL COSTS PAID TO BWSW Once you have completed the SBD2 Assessment with us you will need to pay BWSW for your actual Licence and then become a member to validate your Licence: Costs are:
£40 – for your Licence without ICC (one off payment £70 – for your Licence with ICC (one off payment) PLUS £67 - single annual membership (normally £91, but you get a discounted rate as you took your SBD2 at Camel Ski). Please note you will have to renew your membership annually to keep your Licence valid.

In addition to this, if you wish to tow on the Camel Estuary you will need to apply to the Harbour Master for a ski permit, this is £75 for the season - April to October, or £45 for two consecutive weeks. He can be contacted on 07786 702085.